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03/05/2023 06:15 AMAs of this month, Connecticut residents relying on federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds are no longer receiving a boost of extra cash deposited into their accounts monthly since March of 2020.
The extra emergency funds came from Connecticut’s participation in the federal Families First Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020. According to Connecticut Social Services, the emergency SNAP funds had added a minimum of $95 per month deposited into individual SNAP accounts.
As of February, 2023, the last of those emergency SNAP funds were disbursed to Connecticut residents, as part of the state’s enactment of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
The end of SNAP emergency funds hits at a time when inflation and the dipping economy has already created an alarming increase in requests for food security assistance from non-profit organizations such as Branford Food Pantry (BFP).
Compounding the issue for SNAP recipients is the new, 8.7% federal increase in Social Security assistance which began in January 2023. For some families, the Social Security increase created additional income, causing a downward adjustment in the amount of SNAP benefits they are eligible to receive monthly.
“We’ve already been hearing from people who’ve had their SNAP monies cut. Now, with the extra SNAP funding ending, we’re really bracing ourselves,” said BFP President Jaye Andrews.
On March 3, the line for assistance at BFP formed up early – but that was already the norm, said Andrews. The all-volunteer pantry, which opens its doors twice a week to provide free grocery staples to Branford individuals and families in need, has been faced with rising numbers that started with the pandemic, spiked as inflation rose, and have yet to slow down.
“In February of 2022, we had 405 visits that month. In January of ‘23, we had 712. That is a 76 percent increase over the number of times people walk in our doors and pick up groceries,” said Andrews. “And this is a trend we’ve been seeing. It’s just gone up, and up, and up.”
BFP also calculates the number of meals distributed monthly, based on pounds of food provided and visitor numbers.
“In February of ‘22, we gave out 10,725 meals. In January of ‘23 we gave out 26,363,” said Andrews. “So we’re seeing increases everywhere. There’s nothing going down.”
Further compounding matters, as of July 1, 2023, Connecticut Food Bank, which serves 300 agencies including BFP, will no longer waive maintenance and delivery fees suspended since March of 2020 due to the pandemic. The fees range from 5 to 14 cents per pound, depending on the product category. BFP receives about 5,000 pounds of food per month.
Andrews says it’s not a huge bill, but it does add to the load. She added that BFP is grateful to CT Food Bank for all of its support; although these days it’s a bit harder to rely receiving things once readily available, such as eggs. Andrews said BFP felt especially fortunate to have received some free eggs in its delivery from CT Food Bank just this week.
“One of our real concerns now is the economy and the cost of this eggs. We buy a lot of eggs,” said Andrews.
In February 2022, BFP bought 375 dozen eggs and spent about $700. In January of 2023, BFP bought 675 dozen eggs and spent about $3,000.
Due to health and safety requirements, BFP can’t accept donations of eggs from the public.
No matter the hurdles facing BFP now and in the weeks to come, Andrews emphasized that no Branford resident in need of groceries will be turned away from BFP.
“Regardless of how high the demand is, I don’t want to discourage anybody from coming in if they need food. We have food. You’re not taking it out of the mouths of people that need it more than you. This is what we are made for.”
The organization is reviewing its all-volunteer staffing levels and efforts to stretch dollars, raise funds and donations, and seek additional support to weather this new challenge. Andrews said BFP is lucky to have had the benefit receiving many generous donations during the Covid crisis, helping BFP to build up some budget reserves.
“Covid donations were generous, and we squirreled a lot of it away for a rainy day. And guess what? It’s raining,” said Andrews.
BFP recently increased its food expense budget by 40% to keep up with trending demand.
“We’re going to have to work to keep up with the need, but I feel confident that we will,” said Andrews.
Right now, BFP is asking any community member or group considering a food drive for the pantry to please include canned fruit, diced tomatoes and baked beans in their donations.
Volunteers, including Spanish-speaking volunteers, are needed to help BFP on Tuesday and Friday mornings.
Andrews also noted that 2023 marks the 45th year of operation for BFP, which started out distributing pre-packed grocery bags of food from a church basement on the green.
“And now, here we are,” said Andrews of the food distribution site in the lower level of the Patricia C. Andriole Volunteer Center on Harrison Avenue.
“Since 1978, the need, sadly, has never diminished. If anything, it’s increased,” she said.
To learn more about Branford Food Pantry, volunteer or to make a tax-deductible donation online, visit branfordfoodpantry.org